U.S. patent number 10,081,063 [Application Number 14/830,287] was granted by the patent office on 2018-09-25 for expanding locating pin with controlled holding force.
This patent grant is currently assigned to GM Global Technology Operations LLC. The grantee listed for this patent is GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC. Invention is credited to Justin Jay Hackett, Scott A. McLeod, Jianying Shi, John Patrick Spicer.
United States Patent |
10,081,063 |
Shi , et al. |
September 25, 2018 |
Expanding locating pin with controlled holding force
Abstract
An expanding locating pin assembly configured to locate and hold
a part includes a housing, a locating pin, an actuating mechanism,
and a controller. The housing is configured with a plurality of
radial jaw guides and a part rest face. The locating pin has a
plurality of jaws connected to and radially movable in the radial
jaw guides and extending past the part rest face. The actuating
mechanism synchronously moves the jaws to a radial position and
applies a holding force to the part. The controller controls the
radial position and the holding force of the jaws. The part rest
face of the housing and the jaws of the locating pin are configured
to receive the part in a located position. The jaws of the locating
pin are configured to hold the part in the located position via the
holding force and a friction force resulting from the holding
force.
Inventors: |
Shi; Jianying (Oakland
Township, MI), McLeod; Scott A. (Windsor, CA),
Hackett; Justin Jay (Mount Clemens, MI), Spicer; John
Patrick (Plymouth, MI) |
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC |
Detroit |
MI |
US |
|
|
Assignee: |
GM Global Technology Operations
LLC (Detroit, MI)
|
Family
ID: |
57961268 |
Appl.
No.: |
14/830,287 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2015 |
Prior Publication Data
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|
|
Document
Identifier |
Publication Date |
|
US 20170050245 A1 |
Feb 23, 2017 |
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25B
5/087 (20130101); B25B 31/005 (20130101); B25J
15/009 (20130101); B23B 31/1612 (20130101); B23B
31/40 (20130101); B23B 31/1253 (20130101); G11B
17/0282 (20130101); B25J 15/10 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B23B
31/40 (20060101); B25J 15/10 (20060101); G11B
17/028 (20060101); B23B 31/171 (20060101); B25B
31/00 (20060101); B23B 31/12 (20060101); B25J
15/00 (20060101); B25B 5/08 (20060101) |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
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1693018 |
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Nov 2005 |
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CN |
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1962117 |
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May 2007 |
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CN |
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101193720 |
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Jun 2008 |
|
CN |
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201357240 |
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Dec 2009 |
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CN |
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201423577 |
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Mar 2010 |
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CN |
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201483250 |
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May 2010 |
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CN |
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102121496 |
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Jul 2011 |
|
CN |
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103659007 |
|
Mar 2014 |
|
CN |
|
2025293 |
|
Feb 2009 |
|
EP |
|
Other References
Goudsmit Magnetic Systems, brochure entitled "Magnet Grippers";
accessed Aug. 14, 2014; 4 pages. cited by applicant.
|
Primary Examiner: Koehler; Christopher M
Assistant Examiner: Yoon; Seahee
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Quinn IP Law
Claims
The invention claimed is:
1. An expanding locating pin assembly configured to receive and
locate a part with locating holes of various sizes, comprising: a
housing configured with a plurality of radial jaw guides and a part
rest face; a locating pin having a locating pin axis and having a
plurality of jaws, each jaw connected to and radially movable in
one of the radial jaw guides, extending past the part rest face in
a direction parallel to the locating pin axis, and including a part
holding surface at its radially outer edge; an actuating mechanism
connected to the housing and the jaws and configured to
synchronously move the jaws to a radial position; and a controller
connected to the actuating mechanism and configured to control the
radial position of the jaws; wherein the part rest face of the
housing and the part holding surfaces of the jaws are configured to
receive and locate the part via one of the locating holes in a
located position; wherein the part holding surface of each jaw is
always parallel to the locating pin axis; wherein each jaw includes
a jaw positioning pin; wherein the actuating mechanism includes a
rotating plate configured with a respective jaw positioning slot
extending both radially and circumferentially for each jaw
positioning pin; and wherein each jaw positioning pin is connected
to the respective jaw positioning slot such that rotating the
rotating plate moves the jaws of the locating pin in the radial jaw
guides to the radial position.
2. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the jaws
of the locating pin are radially moveable to locate the part with
locating holes ranging from 6 mm to 20 mm in diameter.
3. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the jaws
of the locating pin are radially moveable to locate the part with
locating holes ranging from 20 mm to 40 mm in diameter.
4. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the
housing is configured with three of the jaw guides; and wherein the
locating pin has three of the jaws.
5. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the
actuating mechanism includes a crank arm and a connecting rod.
6. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the
actuating mechanism includes a pneumatic actuator.
7. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 1, wherein the
actuating mechanism includes an electric servo motor.
8. An expanding locating pin assembly configured to receive and
locate a part with locating holes of various sizes and to hold the
part with a controlled holding force, comprising: a housing
configured with a plurality of radial jaw guides and a part rest
face; a locating pin having a locating pin axis and having a
plurality of jaws, each jaw connected to and radially movable in
one of the radial jaw guides, extending past the part rest face in
a direction parallel to the locating pin axis, and including a part
holding surface at its radially outer edge; an actuating mechanism
connected to the housing and the jaws and configured to
synchronously move the jaws to a radial position and to apply a
controlled holding force to the part; and a controller connected to
the actuating mechanism and configured to control the radial
position of the jaws and the holding force; wherein the part rest
face of the housing and the part holding surfaces of the jaws are
configured to receive and locate the part via one of the locating
holes in a located position; wherein the part rest face of the
housing and the part holding surfaces of the jaws are further
configured to hold the part in the located position via the holding
force and a friction force resulting from the holding force;
wherein the part holding surface of each jaw is always parallel to
the locating pin axis; wherein each jaw includes a jaw positioning
pin; wherein the actuating mechanism includes a rotating plate
configured with a respective jaw positioning slot extending both
radially and circumferentially for each jaw positioning pin; and
wherein each jaw positioning pin is connected to the respective jaw
positioning slot such that rotating the rotating plate moves the
jaws of the locating pin in the radial jaw guides to the radial
position.
9. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 8, wherein the jaws
of the locating pin are radially moveable to locate and hold the
part having locating holes ranging from 6 mm to 20 mm in
diameter.
10. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 8, wherein the
jaws of the locating pin are radially moveable to locate and hold
the part having locating holes ranging from 20 mm to 40 mm in
diameter.
11. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 8, wherein the
housing is configured with three of the jaw guides; and wherein the
locating pin has three of the jaws.
12. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 8, wherein the
actuating mechanism includes a crank arm and a connecting rod.
13. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 8, wherein the
actuating mechanism includes a pneumatic actuator.
14. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 8, wherein the
actuating mechanism includes an electric servo motor.
15. The expanding locating pin assembly of claim 8, wherein the
part holding surface of the jaws is a segment of a cylindrical
surface.
16. A flexible manufacturing system configured for manufacturing
one or more of a part, a subassembly, and an assembly each having
various configurations and locating holes of various sizes,
comprising: an expanding locating pin assembly configured to
receive, locate, and hold one of the part, the subassembly, and the
assembly in a located position, including: a housing configured
with a plurality of radial jaw guides and a part rest face; a
locating pin having a locating pin axis and having a plurality of
jaws, each jaw connected to and radially movable in one of the
radial jaw guides, extending past the part rest face in a direction
parallel to the locating pin axis, and including a part holding
surface at its radially outer edge; an actuating mechanism
connected to the housing and the jaws and configured to
synchronously move the jaws to a radial position and to apply a
controlled holding force to the one of the part, the subassembly,
and the assembly; and a controller connected to the actuating
mechanism and configured to control the radial position of the jaws
and the holding force on the one of the part, the subassembly, and
the assembly; wherein the part rest face of the housing and the
part holding surfaces of the jaws are configured to receive and
locate the one of the part, the subassembly, and the assembly via
one of the locating holes in the located position; wherein the part
rest face of the housing and the part holding surfaces of the jaws
are further configured to hold the one of the part, the
subassembly, and the assembly in the located position via the
holding force and a friction force resulting from the holding
force; wherein the part holding surface of each jaw is always
parallel to the locating pin wherein the part holding surface of
each jaw is always parallel to the locating pin axis; wherein each
jaw includes a jaw positioning pin; wherein the actuating mechanism
includes a rotating plate configured with a respective jaw
positioning slot extending both radially and circumferentially for
each jaw positioning pin; and wherein each jaw positioning pin is
connected to the respective jaw positioning slot such that rotating
the rotating plate moves the jaws of the locating pin in the radial
jaw guides to the radial position.
17. The flexible manufacturing system of claim 16, wherein the
housing is configured with three of the jaw guides; and wherein the
locating pin has three of the jaws.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
This disclosure relates to an expanding locating pin with
controlled holding force.
BACKGROUND
A manufacturing system typically operates on parts, subassemblies,
and/or assemblies that must be accurately located and held in place
for manufacturing and assembly operations. For example, a sheet
metal part, subassembly, or assembly may need to be accurately
located and held in place to conduct assembly, welding, and
inspection operations in the body shop of a vehicle assembly
plant.
Part locating fixtures are normally used for this purpose. Part
locating fixtures typically include a plurality of fixed pins that
are configured to fit into a plurality of locating holes in the
part and one or more clamps that are configured hold the part in
place. The locating holes may have various sizes and/or shapes.
Part locating fixtures are generally useable for only one
particular part size and/or shape and usually need to be modified
or rebuilt to locate and hold a differently sized and/or shaped
part. Multiple part locating fixtures are typically required for
the wide variety of parts and the wide variety of assembly and
manufacturing operations in a manufacturing plant.
SUMMARY
An expanding locating pin assembly and a flexible manufacturing
system are provided herein. The expanding locating pin assembly is
configured to locate a part with locating holes of various sizes.
The expanding locating pin assembly includes a housing, a locating
pin, an actuating mechanism, and a controller. The housing is
configured with a plurality of radial jaw guides and a part rest
face. The locating pin has a plurality of jaws. Each jaw is
connected to and radially movable in one of the radial jaw guides
and extends from the part rest face. The actuating mechanism is
connected to the housing and the jaws and is configured to
synchronously move the jaws to a radial position. The controller is
connected to the actuating mechanism and is configured to control
the radial position of the jaws. The part rest face of the housing
and the jaws of the locating pin are configured to receive the part
in a located position. The housing may be configured with three jaw
guides, and the locating pin may have three jaws.
A second embodiment of the expanding locating pin assembly is
configured to locate a part with locating holes of various sizes
and hold the part with a controlled holding force. The expanding
locating pin assembly includes a housing, a locating pin, an
actuating mechanism, and a controller. The housing is configured
with a plurality of radial jaw guides and a part rest face. The
locating pin has a plurality of jaws. Each jaw is connected to and
radially movable in one of the radial jaw guides and extends from
the part rest face. The actuating mechanism is connected to the
housing and the jaws and is configured to synchronously move the
jaws to a radial position and to apply the holding force to the
part. The controller is connected to the actuating mechanism and is
configured to control the radial position of the jaws and the
holding force of the jaws on the part. The part rest face of the
housing and the jaws of the locating pin are configured to receive
the part in a located position. The jaws of the locating pin are
configured to hold the part in the located position via the holding
force and a friction force resulting from the holding force. The
housing may be configured with three jaw guides, and the locating
pin may have three jaws.
The flexible manufacturing system is configured for manufacturing
one or more of a part, a subassembly, and an assembly each having
various configurations and locating holes of various sizes. The
flexible manufacturing system includes an expanding locating pin
assembly configured to locate and hold one of the part, the
subassembly, and the assembly in a located position. The expanding
locating pin assembly includes a housing, a locating pin, an
actuating mechanism, and a controller. The housing is configured
with a plurality of radial jaw guides and a part rest face. The
locating pin has a plurality of jaws. Each jaw is connected to and
radially movable in one of the radial jaw guides and extends from
the part rest face. The actuating mechanism is connected to the
housing and the jaws and is configured to synchronously move the
jaws to a radial position and to apply the holding force to the one
of the part, the subassembly, and the assembly. The controller is
connected to the actuating mechanism and is configured to control
the radial position of the jaws and the holding force of the jaws.
The part rest face and the jaws of the locating pin are configured
to receive the one of the part, the subassembly, and the assembly
in the located position. The jaws of the locating pin are
configured to hold the one of the part, the subassembly, and the
assembly in the located position via the holding force and a
friction force resulting from the holding force. The housing may be
configured with three jaw guides, and the locating pin may have
three jaws.
The expanding locating pin assembly and the flexible manufacturing
system enable parts, subassemblies, and/or assemblies having
various configurations and locating holes of various sizes to be
located and held in place for manufacturing and assembly
operations. This disclosure applies to any machine or manufacture
that locates any item, including but not limited to parts,
subassemblies, assemblies, for any purpose. This disclosure applies
to any manufacturing system, including but not limited to
manufacturing systems for vehicles and other transportation
products, industrial products, construction products, consumer
products, and government products.
The above features and advantages and other features and advantages
of the present teachings are readily apparent from the following
detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the present
teachings when taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1A is a schematic perspective illustration of an expanding
locating pin assembly with a plurality of jaws at a minimum
diameter radial position.
FIG. 1B is a schematic perspective illustration of the expanding
locating pin assembly of FIG. 1A including a part that is located
and held in a located position by the expanding locating pin
assembly.
FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the expanding locating pin
assembly of FIG. 1A with the plurality of jaws at the minimum
diameter radial position and including the part to be located and
held.
FIG. 3A is a schematic cross-sectional illustration, partially in
elevation, of the expanding locating pin assembly of FIG. 1A, taken
at line 3-3 of FIG. 2, with the plurality of jaws at the minimum
diameter radial position.
FIG. 3B is a schematic cross-sectional illustration, partially in
elevation, of the expanding locating pin assembly of FIG. 1A, taken
at line 3-3 of FIG. 2, with the plurality of jaws at a maximum
diameter radial position.
FIG. 4A is a schematic cross-sectional illustration, partially in
elevation, of the expanding locating pin assembly of FIG. 1A, taken
at line 4-4 of FIG. 2, with the plurality of jaws at the minimum
diameter radial position.
FIG. 4B is a schematic cross-sectional illustration, partially in
elevation, of the expanding locating pin assembly of FIG. 1A, taken
at line 4-4 of FIG. 2, with the plurality of jaws at the maximum
diameter radial position.
FIG. 5 is a fragmentary schematic perspective view illustration of
the expanding locating pin assembly of FIG. 1A with an upper
portion of a housing removed for clarity.
FIG. 6 is schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment
of the expanding locating pin assembly of FIG. 1A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to
like components throughout the views, FIG. 1A-1B shows an expanding
locating pin assembly 10 for use in a flexible manufacturing system
(not shown). The flexible manufacturing system is configured for
manufacturing and/or assembling one or more of a part, subassembly,
or assembly 12 each having various size and shape configurations
and each configured with one or more locating holes 14 of various
sizes. The locating holes 14 have an edge 18. The part,
subassembly, or assembly 12 has a locating surface 15. The part 12
may need to be accurately located and held in place for
manufacturing and assembly operations. For example, a sheet metal
part, subassembly, or assembly 12 may need to be accurately located
and held in place to conduct assembly, welding, and inspection
operations in the body shop of a vehicle assembly plant.
The expanding locating pin assembly 10 is configured to locate the
part 12 via the locating hole 14 and the locating surface 15 in a
located position 16. The expanding locating pin assembly may also
be configured to hold the part 12 with a controlled holding force
(arrow HF) in the located position 16. Locating is defined herein
as positioning the part 12 in the located position 16 in
3-dimensional space. Holding is defined herein as retaining the
part 12 in the located position 16 via the holding force (arrow HF)
acting normal to and on the edge 18 of the locating hole 14 and/or
via a friction force (arrow FF) resulting from the holding force
(arrow HF) and acting parallel to and on the edge 18 of the
locating hole 14. Holding, as defined herein, does not include
clamping. Clamping is defined herein as compressing the part 12
between two surfaces with a clamping force (not shown) such that
movement of the part 12 is prevented by the clamping force and by
the interference of the two surfaces with the part 12.
The expanding locating pin assembly 10 may be connected to an
immovable structure (not shown), or to a moveable device (not
shown), including but not limited to a robot, a conveyor, or a
guided vehicle. There may be multiple expanding locating pin
assemblies 10 included in the flexible manufacturing system and/or
in a particular manufacturing or assembly operation in the flexible
manufacturing system.
The expanding locating pin assembly 10 includes a housing 20, a
locating pin 22, an actuating mechanism 24, and a controller 26.
The housing 20 is configured with a plurality of radial jaw guides
28 and a part rest face 30.
The locating pin 22 has a plurality of jaws 32. Each jaw 32 is
connected to and radially movable in one of the radial jaw guides
28 and extends out of the housing 20 past the rest face 30. The
locating pin 22 has a locating pin axis (axis LP) at its center of
symmetry. Each of the jaws 32 has a part holding feature 33 at the
radially outer edge of the jaw 32 that is farthest from the
locating pin axis (axis LP). The part holding feature 33 of the
jaws 32 may be a surface that is parallel to the locating pin axis
(axis LP), as shown. The part holding feature 33 of the jaws 32 may
be a segment of a cylindrical surface, as shown. The part holding
feature 33 of the jaws 32 may be any other suitable feature for
applying the holding force (arrow HF) perpendicular to the surface
of the edge 18 of the locating hole 14.
The housing 20 may be configured with three radial jaw guides 28
and the locating pin 22 may have three jaws 32 for locating the
part 12 when the locating hole 14 is a round hole, as shown.
Alternatively, the housing 20 may be configured with two radial jaw
guides 28 and the locating pin 22 may have two jaws 32 for locating
the part 12 when the locating hole 14 is a slot (not shown).
Continuing to refer to FIGS. 1A-1B, the actuating mechanism 24 is
connected to the housing 20 and the jaws 32. The actuating
mechanism 24 is configured to synchronously move the jaws 32 to a
radial position 34 defining a locating pin circumference 31 and a
locating pin diameter 35 and to cause the jaws 32 to apply the
holding force (arrow HF) normal to the surface of the edge 18 of
the locating hole 14 of the part 12. Radial is defined herein as
the direction perpendicular to the locating pin axis (axis LP). The
actuating mechanism includes an actuator 25. The actuator 25 may be
one of a pneumatic actuator, a hydraulic actuator, and an electric
servo motor.
The controller 26 is connected to the actuating mechanism 24 and is
configured to control the motion and the radial position 34 of the
jaws 32 and to control the holding force (arrow HF) of the jaws 32
on the edge 18 of the locating hole 14 of the part 12. The
magnitude of the holding force (arrow HF) may be controlled as
appropriate depending on a variety of factors, including but not
limited to the material type, the material thickness, the size, and
the shape of the part 12.
The part 12 is located in the located position 16 on the part rest
face 30 and the jaws 32 of the locating pin 22. The locating
surface 15 of the part 12 is in contact with the part rest face 30
of the housing 20 when the part 12 is in the located position 16.
In addition, the part holding features 33 of the jaws 32 are in
close proximity to the edge 18 of the locating hole 14 when the
part 12 is in the located position 16. For example, the part
holding features 33 of the jaws 32 may be within 1 mm of the edge
18 of the locating hole 14 when the part 12 I in the located
position 16. The part 12 may be held by further expanding the jaws
32 of the expanding locating pin assembly 10 to apply the holding
force (arrow HF) after the part 12 is in the located position 16
such that both the holding force (arrow HF) and the friction force
(arrow FF) resulting from the holding force (arrow HF) holds the
part 12 in the located position 16.
Referring now to FIGS. 2-3B, the jaws 32 of the locating pin 22 may
be radially moveable from a minimum diameter radial position 36 to
a maximum diameter radial position 38. The jaws 32 of the locating
pin 22 may be radially moveable to locate and hold parts 12 having
locating holes 14 ranging from 6 mm in diameter at the minimum
diameter radial position 36 to 20 mm in diameter at the maximum
diameter radial position 38. Alternatively, the jaws 32 of the
locating pin 22 may be radially moveable to locate and hold parts
12 having locating holes 14 ranging from 20 mm in diameter at the
minimum diameter radial position 36 to 40 mm in diameter at the
maximum diameter radial position 38. The jaws 32 of the locating
pin 22 may be radially movable to locate and hold parts 12 having
locating holes 14 of any other appropriate range of diameters, for
example 16 mm to 32 mm or 6 mm to 40 mm.
Referring now to FIGS. 4A-5, each jaw 32 may include a jaw
positioning pin 40. The actuating mechanism 24 may include a
rotating plate 42 configured with a respective jaw positioning slot
44 extending both radially and circumferentially for each jaw
positioning pin 40. Each jaw positioning pin 40 may be connected to
the respective jaw positioning slot 44 such that rotating the
rotating plate 42 in a first radial direction (arrow R1) increases
the radial position 34 of the jaws 32 and applies the holding force
(arrow HF) and rotating the rotating plate 42 in a second rotation
direction (arrow R2), opposite the first rotation direction (arrow
R1), decreases the radial position 34 of the jaws 32 and releases
the holding force (arrow HF).
The actuating mechanism 24 may include a crank arm 46 connected to
the rotating plate 42 and a connecting rod 48 connected to the
crank arm 46 and to the actuator 25. The actuator 25, via the
connecting rod 48 and the crank arm 46, may cause the rotating
plate 42 to rotate in the first rotation direction (arrow R1) to
increase the radial position 34 of the jaws 32 and to apply the
holding force (arrow HF) and in the second rotation direction
(arrow R2), opposite the first rotation direction (arrow R1), to
decrease the radial position 34 of the jaws 32 and to release the
holding force (arrow HF).
Referring now to FIG. 6, the actuator 25 may be an electric servo
motor 50 having an output shaft (not shown) attached to the
rotating plate 42. The electric servo motor 50 may cause the
rotating plate 42 to rotate in the first rotation direction (arrow
R1) to increase the radial position 34 of the jaws 32 and to apply
the holding force (arrow HF) and in the second rotation direction
(arrow R2), opposite the first rotation direction (arrow R1), to
decrease the radial position 34 of the jaws 32 and to release the
holding force (arrow HF).
While the best modes for carrying out the many aspects of the
present teachings have been described in detail, those familiar
with the art to which these teachings relate will recognize various
alternative aspects for practicing the present teachings that are
within the scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *